Swedish Ultraman Jonas Colting makes history, leads trio to complete first swim around Phuket

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Swedish Ultraman Jonas Colting makes history, leads trio to complete first swim around Phuket
The Phuket News


Swedish Ultraman World Champion Jonas Colting (centre), along with training partners Thobias Peterson and Daniel Karlsson, exit the water at Mai Khao Beach this morning (April 6) to complete their record-setting swim around Phuket.

PHUKET: -- Swedish Ultraman World Champion Jonas Colting and his training partners Thobias Peterson and Daniel Karlsson Engdahl made history on Wednesday (April 6) when they completed a marathon swim to become the first men to swim around the island of Phuket.

Mr Colting, who led the epic swim, was joined by his training partners Thobias Peterson and Daniel Karlsson Engdahl throughout the eight legs of the trek.

Cheers and applause greeted the weary but fulfilled swimmers as they rose from the water and broke the finish tape at Mai Khao Beach, where they had embarked eight days earlier. To complete the ordeal, the three swam about 17 kilometres each day, from 6am to 1pm.

The swim followed a counter-clockwise route around Phuket, passing the Andaman beaches, the island’s southernmost point Phrom Thep Cape, and Chalong Pier. The route then turned northward to Ao Por Pier, passing under the Sarasin Bridge before ending at Mai Khao.

Aside from the mammoth total distance of over 140 kilometres, the team also prevailed against strong head winds, currents, jellyfish and the heat.

“I was aware of the big challenges being the heat and the sun. We took lots of proactive measures like getting in the water early in the morning, lots of sunscreen, and some young coconut every day after finishing,” Mr Colting said.

Characteristic of ultra-distance athletes, Mr Colting and his crew adapted to the workload and felt stronger every day along the way. “The winds, tides and waves have been harder than expected, especially since they haven´t been in our favour for the most part. So it’s been slow going with longer swims than I had planned.”

Thanyapura President Philipp Graf von Hardenberg was on hand to welcome the swimmers to the finish line on Wednesday. “We are extremely proud to have been part of making history,” he said.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/swedish-ultraman-jonas-colting-makes-history-leads-trio-to-complete-first-swim-around-phuket-56925.php


-- Phuket News 2016-04-06

[steve2112]

I'm exhausted just reading about it.

[crankshaft]

They have a work permit for this?....

[The Big Mango]

What for swimming ???